After a long hiatus, Sufjan Stevens has released a new album entitled Age of Adz. Since his purported early retirement, this is a welcome album that proves a worthy follow up to Illinois, although VERY different. It represents a nice blend of sounds, but retains that uniquely Sufjan sound.
Feeling a bit nostalgic, I have recently done some scouring around for a few good Samples videos. The Samples, a Vermont/Colorado-based band that derives its name from King Soopers grocery store niblets, is an euphoric band that has been representing a unique rock influenced reggae sound since the early 1990's. One of my favorite shows in college, with my buddy Jack, was played by The Samples at the local concert hall. Without question, one of the greatest concerts I have been a part of - it allowed me to reframe the next four years in a different light.
Thought I would share a few tracks that have made an impression:
when I saw the churches the stained glass was gone and the boxes were empty I wondered how long
when I saw the blind man who can't see the sun he talked of his army and some war they won
he prayed for the future and he prayed for the past and he said his heart still bleeds for the wife he once had
when I told the blind man we're all here alone he said the strong wind was taking us home
when years pass between us and the light shines on the water I ask please for one thing leave shelter when it's raining
decisions in blueprint so nervous and deceiving in concrete these structures that our small hands just keep building
through towers and phone lines connections to each other I wonder who's watching as light shines on the water
when the stars fall beyond us and our small eyes just keep watching I ask please for one thing leave shelter when it's raining when it's raining
we were children in our places with the world beneath our feet and growing up was on our faces I remember yours so sweet
did you ever look so nice
every turn became our future there for us to make our bet that the longer I remember you're the hardest to forget
did you ever look so nice
and if we make it thru these changes to find that nothing was in stone but the glance of our exchanges did they ever look so nice
Not sure why he was formerly known as Yundi Li, then Yundi, now Li Yundi, but let us not get distracted. What really irks me is the video for Schumann's "Traumerei." When you are lauded as one of the world's greatest musicians (as is Yundi/Yundi Li/Li Yundi/LY LoveMachine/Looooww Ryyyder), it is almost a responsibility to make an awesome music video. So what happened with Yundi's/Li Yundustrious's video for "Traumerai?"
Since I don't wish to make enemies, I will simply state that I am less than impressed with this particular video. Frankly, whomever is doing PR for YL/LY should be fired immediately. This video is so contrived, cheesy, and just disconcerting in many ways. I guess what really bothers me is that classical music needs superstars to help revive popularity amongst the masses. But is a video of one of the world's most exciting pianist portrayed as Milli Vanilli going to draw crowds? It remains to be seen...but it has the power to quickly make one nauseous.
Just happened to stumble across an interesting, relatively new band from oustide of Oxford, England called Stornoway. They have blended your classic, love-sick pop music with a crooning folk sensibility that makes for a refreshing combo.
I like a couple of their songs tonight, so I will post three that intrigue me: "Fuel Up," Zorbing," and "I Saw You Blink:"